X5 is not the same as X5-Gold

May 19, 2006

I just bought the X5-Gold. I also still have and use the X5 I bought

in 1986 in u, Germany. There are difrences between the two, aside

from the color scheme and the lack of the book, which came with the

original German unit.

The one I bought in Germany was Made in Germany. The X5-Gold was made

in Japan.

The X5-Gold is longer by 1.1 " than the German unit.

The scale in the German runs from 25 to 115, while the Gold has the

scale from 0 to 95. The meaning of the numbers is irrelevant, but the

range is different.

The nylon bands of the German are thicker than those in the Gold.

The wall chart of the Gold carries the same exercises and still refers

to " Upper Arm " rather than Bicep or Tricep, but it doesn't really matter.

The blabk plastic cylinders on both sides of the metal center pipe

seem more breakable in the Gold. They are set right on the edge of the

metal pipe, which gives the feel like it will fall apart if the unit

was bent. The German unit has a thick black plastic, and the fact that

the scale (powermeter) starts from 25 and not from zero, gives it a

better feel since the metal pipe is deeper in the black plastic sleeve.

The print of the words Powermeter in three languages on the Gold is

wrong, since someone didn't know how to either spell, copy, or set

text. The word Powermeter for example, is spelled " Powerme ter " , with

a space in the text.

The German has the word Powermeter in three languages on the printed

scale: English (left), German (center) and French (right). On the Gold

scale, you can't find the German word. There is no text in the center.

On the black handles, oposite to where the fingers are, the German

hosts a label with images of some exercises. The Gold has the location

for a label, but there is nothing there.

Pressing the units, it seems like the Gold has more resistance, but I

can't say anymore until I actually go through a full workout.

I will start working out with the Gold tomorrow and report back.

Pcbwizz in Tucson Arizona, USA

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